Crate



CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3 1921.

T. F.l LOUGHRAN.

Patented Apr. M, 31922.v

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

narran srarss THOMAS F. LOUGHRAN, OF W'INONA. MINNESTA.

CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Apr. 11, 31922.

Application filed February 3, 1921. Serial No. 442,286.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I. THOMAS F. LoUGH- RAN, a citizen, of the UnitedStates, residing at iVinona, in the county of Winona and State ofMinnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crates, of whichthe following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to crates and it contemplates theprovision of a de-A vice that may be employed for the shipment ofsewing-machines, phonographs and the like and after shipment has beencompleted the crate is adapted to be collapsed to return to the originalshipper.

The invention further contemplates a collapsible metallic crate throughthe use of which conservation of wood is accomplished.

The. invention further contemplates a crate that is durable and strongand one that may be readily adjusted about an article to be shipped andthis with but a slight amount of effort on the part of those practicingthe invention.

The invention in all of its details will be fully understood from thefollowing description and claims when the same are read in connectionwith the drawings accompanyino; and forming' part of this specification,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my novel crate when the same isproperly set up. The view however does not disclose an article asencased by the crate ready for shipment.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one end of the crateV as partiallycollapsed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the same end of the crate as disclosed inFigure 2 but showing the crate as fully collapsed.

"Figure 4 is a detail view of the lock construction I employ to retainthe members of the crate in proper position during shipment thereof.

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating the position assumed by thelocking mechanism` when the crate is collapsed ready for the returnjourney to the original shipper.

My novel device is to be formed of iron, steel or other suitablematerial and comprises the upstanding posts 1 of flat type constructionat the extreme ends of which are the long bars '2 and said bars aresecured to the posts 1 as illustrated.

At a point slightly below the longitudinal center of the upstandingposts 1 I pro- -vide the brace members 3 that are secured in a permanentmanner to said posts 1, and

extending at an angle from the lower end of one post 1 to the upper endof an opposing post 1 are brace bars 4.

Manifestly the bars 3 and 4 assist with the members 2 in producing astrongdevice.

Extending` from and hinged to the `upper and lower ends of two of theposts 1 are short rods 9 that are hinged to each other as indicated Iby10. One post 1 is provided with the hinged members 12 at its upper andlower ends and these members 12 are provided with integral lip portions13 for an important purpose soon to be disclosed. The lower lip 13 ofeach member 12 is provided with a look-receiving` aperture 17 as shownand movably secured to the other upstandingr post 1 are members 14 thatare provided with locks 15 that rest when the crate is assembled in thechannels formed by the lips 13 of member 12.

The locks 15 are provided with the keyhole 13 into which the ordinarywell known sewing-machine or similar key is inserted to operate thekeeper 16 into and out of the aperture of the lips 13.

In order to materially assist the locks 15 to prevent casual collapse ofthe crate I provide on the end walls of the posts 1 the cross brace bars5 that are hinged at 6 and are adapted to take over a pin 7 of theopposing post 1 as shown.

In the practical use of the invention the crate is adjusted as appearsin Figure 1 and after the shipment has been received,` the purchasermerely unlocks the bars 12 and 14 and allows said members to gravitatedownwardly or upwardly,y as the case may be. rIhe rods 5 may then bereleased from the pins 7 and the crate removed from around the article.The crate is then collapsed as shown in Figure 3 and the members 9. 12and 14 will assume positions alongsi-de the posts 1.

It will be 2gathered from the foregoing that the invention is veryinexpensive to produce and because of its construction may be usedindefinitely to make successive shipments of bulky machines and thelike. Moreover, the up-keep of the. device is quite im,- material andbecause of the material employed the possibility of the crate becominginoperative is decreased.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a crate the combination of upstandeen ingmembers, side bars secured to the upstending members, cross bers securedto the sides of the upstanding members, hinged members hinged to theupstanding members, cross bars hinged to the ends of some of theupstanding members, pins formed on the upstendingmembers to receive oneend of the last-named bars, and bars secured to several of theupstanding members and locking means for`retaining the bars in rigid.manner to each other; seid means comprising a channel formed on one ofthe members :ind a, lock secured to the opposing members and adapted toseat in the channels of the members.

2. In e crate, the combination of members, bars secured to the members,hinged portions secured to the first named members,

cross bers hinged to the ends of the firstnamed members, pins 'formed onsaid members to receive one end of one of the bars, and bars secured tosome of the first-named members and means for retaining the bers inrigid position to eachother; said means comprising a, channel formed onone of the members and locking means secured to the opposing members andadapted to seat in the channel.

InV testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

LEO F. MURPHY, WT. V. LINDSAY,

